Apr 09, 2025 Zero Waste Advisory Commission

[00:00:02]

MEETING

[CALL MEETING TO ORDER]

UH, LET'S SEE.

THERE'S, UH, MELISSA, AMANDA, ACTUALLY, AND MICHAEL ONLINE.

THANK YOU FOLKS.

THANK YOU.

AND, UH, PRESENT, WE HAVE SETH, IRIS, JAN, AND MYSELF.

SO, THANK YOU.

MAY QUORUM HERE.

UH, COMMISSIONERS ON THE ACTUAL AGENDA, I WAS HOPING TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF REARRANGING ON THIS AFTER ITEMS, UH, ONE AND, UH, TWO.

I WOULD LOVE IF WE COULD POSSIBLY MOVE ITEM NUMBER THREE TO THE NEXT POSITION, I GUESS.

IS THAT IT? WELL, THAT WOULD BE IT.

ACTUALLY, LET'S SEE IT ON THIS PAGE.

SO, ONE, TWO, YEAH.

THESE ARE NOT NUMBERED CORRECTLY, BUT I WAS GONNA SAY, WELL, YEAH, SO BASICALLY WE'LL HAVE THE A ISD PROPOSAL OR, UH, PRESENTATION DONE AFTER THE MINUTE, UH, REVIEW.

SO, ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS AGAIN, THANK YOU.

AND, UH, STAFF, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

LET'S SEE, FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMUNICATION? I DIDN'T SEE ANY SEEING THAT THERE

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

THE NEXT ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, AND I WILL, UH, ACCEPT A MOTION FOR THE FEBRUARY 12TH MINUTES OF JARED.

COMMISSIONER DROHAN HERE.

UH, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I ACTUALLY WANTED TO MAKE A NOTE THAT STAFF BRIEFING FIVE, UH, THE STAFF BRIEFING REGARDING THE PROPOSED DEPARTMENT RULE AMENDMENTS FOR PLACEMENT OF CARTS.

SHOULDN'T WE HAVE THAT AS PRIOR TO ACTION ITEM ONE? BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE THE INFORMATION IN ORDER TO, TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION, ACTUALLY, AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THANK YOU, MICHAEL.

SO WE, WHAT WE WERE GONNA DO IS HAVE THE A ISD PRESENTATION, AND THEN THOSE TWO GUYS WOULD BASICALLY FILTER, AND I THINK JASON'S GOING TO BRIEF US ON THAT.

IS THAT CORRECT? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

YEAH, SO THANK YOU MICHAEL.

OKAY.

YEP.

SOUNDS GOOD.

ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS AGAIN, I'LL, UH, LOOK OR WAIT FOR A MOTION ON THE MINUTES.

YEAH, I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE.

YEAH, I MOVE'S APPROVAL.

DO I HEAR HER SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT APPROVAL.

MICHAEL.

SECONDS.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS HEARING? NO DISCUSSIONS.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

UNANIMOUS.

ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL MEETING ON MARCH THE 20TH.

AND THERETO, I'LL, UH, ACCEPT A MOTION, HOW DO I SAY IT? , JUST MOVE, SAY, MOVE TO APPROVE.

YEAH, MOVE TO APPROVE, TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES AS YOUR SPEAKER ON.

YEAH, I, SO, OKAY.

THANK YOU.

AND I'LL SECOND THAT SET.

I'LL SECOND APPROVAL BEYOND SECONDS HEARING.

NO DISCUSSION FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION, I SHOULD SAY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

[3. Staff briefing regarding AISD Recycling Efforts and Policies, Darien Clary, Austin Independent School District Director of Sustainability.]

AND THAT'S YOUR SHOW, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

THAT'S MY SHOW.

AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OH, SIR.

SURE.

I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

YEP.

ALRIGHT, SO I SENT MY SLIDES IN ADVANCE.

IS THERE SOMEBODY WHO'S GONNA BE ABLE TO SHOW THOSE? OH, PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

UM, AND WE'LL JUMP AHEAD.

TODAY'S THE NINTH, NOT THE EIGHTH.

SO , THANK YOU.

UM, YES, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

UM, UH, YOU CAN GO AHEAD IN ADVANCE THIS SLIDE.

IT'S GOT MY CONTACT INFORMATION IN CASE YOU WANNA KEEP IN TOUCH.

I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR OF SUSTAINABILITY FOR AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

UM, AND TODAY, IF YOU WANNA ADVANCE THE NEXT SLIDE, IT'S A QUICK VIEW OF WHAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT.

SO I'LL SHARE, UM, AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AT A ISD WHEN IT COMES TO RECYCLING, COMPOSTING, AND LANDFILL WASTE DIVERSION.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT FRAMEWORK AND POLICIES, INITIATIVES THAT ARE UNDERWAY, STAFFING AND PARTNERS, AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES WE'RE SEEING.

SO, UM, GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT ONE.

GREAT.

SO THIS IS JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW, A QUICK HISTORY OF SUSTAINABILITY BROADLY IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICY AND PLANNING.

UM, IT'S ACTUALLY

[00:05:01]

SO, UM, A ISD REALLY TOOK A COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY, UM, IN 2004 AND STARTED REQUIRING ITS NEW CONSTRUCTION AND MAJOR RENOVATIONS TO BE BUILT TO GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS.

UM, SINCE THEN, A LOT'S BEEN HAPPENING.

SO, UM, YOU'LL SEE THE TIMELINE THERE.

THERE WE HAD A RESOLUTION IN 2010, UM, FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, WHICH THEN INFORMED A POLICY THAT WAS PASSED IN 2011.

UH, I'LL GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION ON THAT LATER.

IN 2013, WE HAD, UM, AN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WAS FORMAL, FORMALIZED AS A DISTRICT ADVISORY BODY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.

UM, 2016, WE HAD A BOND PASS THAT, UM, INCORPORATED GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS, UM, INTO 19 NEW SCHOOLS.

UM, 2017 SUSTAINABILITY WAS CENTERED IN OUR FACILITIES MASTER PLAN AND OUR EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS.

AND THEN IN 2018, UM, WE SAW IT REALLY COME TO WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD IN CONSTRUCTION, UM, WITH ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS, UM, FOR GREEN BUILDING AND OUTDOOR LEARNING.

AND THEN NOW WE'RE, UH, IMPLEMENTING THE 2022 BOND THAT WAS PASSED BY VOTERS IN NOVEMBER OF 2022.

AND, UM, PUTTING ALL OF THOSE GREEN BUILDING POLICIES INTO AND DESIGN INTO THOSE SCHOOLS AS WELL.

SO IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, YOU'LL SEE THE FRAMEWORK OF SUSTAINABILITY AT A ISD.

SO WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL ACTION AREAS, AND THERE'S EIGHT OF THEM.

SO WE THINK ABOUT OUR ROLE IN ENERGY AND WATER CONSERVATION, ZERO WASTE PROCUREMENT, TRANSPORTATION, AIR QUALITY, FOOD IN NATURE.

AND THEN WE HAVE THREE PILLARS.

SO WE THINK ABOUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND HOW WE'RE, UM, ADDRESSING THEM THROUGH TEACHING AND LEARNING BECAUSE WE ARE AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS.

SO HOW ARE WE, UM, PLANNING AND OPERATING IN A WAY THAT, UM, LOOKS OUT FOR THESE THINGS? AND THEN OF COURSE, HOW ARE WE ENGAGING AND INCLUDING OUR COMMUNITY IN THESE EFFORTS? SO IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE CENTERED TODAY, WHICH IS AROUND ZERO WASTE.

SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE YOU'LL SEE THREE QR CODES THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT ON YOUR OWN TIME WHENEVER YOU FEEL LIKE IT.

BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE, THE BIG GUIDING THINGS FOR US WHEN IT COMES TO RECYCLING, UM, COMPOSTING AND LANDFILL WASTE DIVERSION.

SO WE HAVE THE TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE THAT SAYS THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO SEPARATE AND COLLECT RECYCLABLE MATERIALS.

WE HAVE TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR COLLECTING AND STORING THE, THE MATERIALS WE HAVE TO, UM, EVALUATE HOW MUCH SO TRACK SOMEHOW HOW MUCH WE'RE RECYCLING, UM, AND DIVERTING FROM THE LANDFILL.

AND THEN WE HAVE OUR SUSTAINABILITY POLICY.

AND THAT, UM, REALLY DEFINES WHAT SUSTAINABILITY MEANS FOR A ISD, WHICH IS MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE PRESENT WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE ABILITY OF FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MEET THEIR OWN NEEDS.

SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE MISSION OF SUSTAINABILITY AND EDUCATION ARE THE SAME.

IT IS SO THAT, SO OUR STUDENTS CAN THRIVE INTO THE FUTURE.

UM, AND THEN THE, THE POLICY WILL GO ON TO TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT AREAS.

UM, BUT ONE OF THOSE IS REDUCE WASTE DISPOSAL AND LANDFILLS BY MEANS OF SOURCE REDUCTION, REUSE, RECYCLING, AND COMPOSTING.

AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE OUR OPERATING PROCEDURES, WHICH REALLY HELPS PUT THAT POLICY INTO ACTION.

UM, AND SO THERE'S A QR CODE THERE THAT TALKS ABOUT HOW, UM, WE, YOU KNOW, ORGANIZE OURSELVES, UM, OPERATIONALLY TO MEET THOSE OBJECTIVES.

UM, SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE FRAMEWORKS THAT WE WORK IN.

AND THEN IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IN PRACTICE PRACTICE.

SO THANK YOU.

UM, SO WE'VE GOT KIND OF TWO BIG BUCKETS.

WE'VE GOT INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS, AND THEN TEACHING AND LEARNING.

SO FIRST WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS AROUND, UM, OUR WASTE MANAGEMENT, UM, AND WASTE DIVERSION.

SO WE HAVE, OF COURSE, COLOR CODED SIGNS, UM, AT ALL OF OUR WASTE STATIONS.

UM, SOME SCHOOLS YOU'LL SEE THERE'S A LOT OF VARIETY.

THAT'S ONE THING I'LL TALK ABOUT IN OUR CHALLENGES.

UM, BUT WE DO TRY TO SET, UM, SOME GOOD STANDARDS.

AND WE HAVE, UM, COLORS THAT MATCH THE CITY'S, UM, COLOR MESSAGING FOR LANDFILL, RECYCLE AND COMPOST.

UM, THESE ARE DEVELOPED BY OUR FOOD SERVICES DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY WANT, UM, THE WASTE THAT KIDS ARE SEEING COMING OUT OF THE CAFETERIAS, UH, TO BE ABLE TO BE SOMETHING THEY CAN RECOGNIZE AND SORT.

UM, SO THEY DEVELOP THESE GRAPHICS WITH WHAT THEY'RE PROCURING.

UM, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THAT THEY ARE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF VISUALS BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR, OUR, OUR LITTLES CAN'T READ YET.

SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WAYS FOLKS CAN SEE HOW TO SORT.

UM, AND THEN I PUT A TINY URL THERE, THERE, UM, SO ANYBODY CAN DOWNLOAD

[00:10:01]

UM, WE ALSO HAVE COMPOSTING, RECYCLING, UM, AND LANDFILL, UM, DUMPSTERS AT EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL.

SO ALL SCHOOLS ARE SERVED, UM, THROUGH ALL THOSE THREE WASTE STREAMS. UM, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE ALSO HAVE A DATA DASHBOARD.

SO WE CAN SEE THE DIVERSION DATA FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.

AND THAT'S, UM, PROVIDED BY OUR WASTE HAULER, WHICH IS TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEMS. AND THEN, UM, WE HAVE OUR, AS I MENTIONED, UM, WE PUT, UM, SOME LANGUAGE AROUND SUSTAINABILITY INTO OUR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT MANUAL, WHICH IS OUR DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS.

WE GO A LITTLE DEEPER AND FURTHER TALK ABOUT, UM, WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THOSE SPECIFICATIONS TO MAKE SURE OUR FACILITIES ARE D DESIGNED TO BE ABLE, UH, TO MAXIMIZE WASTE HANDLING IN THE WAY THAT WE WANT IT TO.

UM, ANOTHER PIECE OF THAT REALLY IS THINKING ABOUT WHO'S HANDLING THE WASTE.

SO IN THOSE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS, UM, WE SPECIFY THAT WE NEED, UM, GROUND LEVEL ACCESS FROM THE BUILDING, UM, TO THE DUMPSTER AREA, AND THAT IF THE GRADE REQUIRES IT, THAT A ACCESSIBLE RAMP BE BUILT.

UM, WE DO NOT ALLOW STAIRS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT OUR, UH, FOOD SERVICES STAFF OR OUR CUSTODIANS HAVING TO CARRY BULKY WASTE DOWNSTAIRS.

IT'S A TRIP HAZARD.

UM, AND SO WE ASK THAT THE ROUTE TO ALL DUMPSTERS NEEDS TO BE DIRECT FOR STAFF DEVOID OF STAIRS, CURBS, OR ANY OTHER BARRIER THAT WOULD PROHIBIT A CART ON WHEELS FROM REACHING IT EASILY.

UM, WE ALSO ASK THAT THE COMPOST DUMPSTER, BECAUSE COMPOST WASTE IS VERY HEAVY, UM, THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE DESIGNED, UM, FOR THE DUMPSTER TO BE WITHIN 50 FEET OF THE CAFETERIA.

AND WE ALSO ASK THAT DUMPSTERS BE POSITIONED FOR ACCESS, UM, FOR PEOPLE OF ALL HEIGHTS.

UM, THIS IS TO PROVE AN INJURY WHEN PEOPLE ARE LIFTING THE HEAVY WASTE, UM, INTO THE DUMPSTER.

UH, THE OPENING FOR THE WASTE SHOULD NOT BE ELEVATED SO THAT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE TO LIFT HEAVY OBJECTS OVER THEIR HEAD.

SO A BIG WASTE CONTAINER, ESPECIALLY THAT COMPOST WASTE 'CAUSE IT'S REALLY HEAVY.

UM, THE NEXT SLIDE YOU'LL SEE, UM, THAT IN OUR, OUR STANDARDS, SO THIS IS MARSHALL MIDDLE SCHOOL, UM, AND IN THE CAFETERIAS, WE WANT THOSE WASTE STATIONS TO BE GROUPED SO THAT SOMEBODY CAN COME AND JUST SORT ALL OF THEIR WASTE AT ONCE.

UM, YOU'LL SEE THIS ONE HAS THE SIGNAGE ON IT.

UM, IN THIS CASE IT WAS REALLY SWEET.

STUDENTS WERE HELPING EACH OTHER SORT, SO THERE WAS SOME PEER TRAINING GOING ON THERE.

UM, AND THEN THE OTHER PHOTO IS AN AUDIT.

SO WE JUST HAD AN AUDIT DONE, UM, WITH TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEMS OF ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.

UM, AND SO WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD INFORMATION ON, UM, SOME THAT ARE DOING GREAT AND SOME THAT NEED A LOT OF HELP AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

SO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, IS REALLY, UH, ABOUT OUR FOOD SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

UM, THEY ARE REALLY INCREDIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO A LOT OF THINGS INCLUDING, UM, WASTE REDUCTION AND WASTE DIVERSION.

SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO TO, UM, REDUCE WASTE ARE LISTED ON THIS.

UM, SOME OF THE FE HIGHLIGHTS, UM, ARE REALLY HOW THEY'RE DESIGNING THE FACILITIES TO REDUCE WASTE TOO.

UM, THEY'RE USING BULK MILK WHENEVER THEY CAN TO REDUCE, UM, UH, SO THAT WE CAN GET INTO THE PRACTICE OF REUSING, UM, UH, PLASTIC CUPS THAT ARE GONNA GET WASHED.

UM, SCRATCH COOKING, UM, REALLY ENABLES THEM TO RIGHTSIZE THEIR RECIPES SO THEY'RE NOT MAKING EXTRA FOOD THAT MAY NOT BE EATEN.

UM, AND THEN SHARE TABLES.

SO, UM, THERE ARE SOME FOOD ITEMS THAT IF IT'S NOT OPENED, A CHILD CAN PUT IT BACK ONTO THE TABLE AND OTHER KIDS CAN CAN USE IT.

SO IT DOESN'T GO INTO THE WASTE.

UM, BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO CHECK OUT OUR FOOD SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THEY'RE DOING SO MUCH, UM, NOT JUST FOR WASTE, BUT FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN GENERAL.

UM, I'M GONNA PUT, I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE ACCESS TO THE CHAT.

LET'S SEE HERE.

UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT I DO, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT USED TO WEBEX, SO IT COULD BE HERE SOMEWHERE.

IF I FIND IT, I'LL PUT A LINK IN THE CHAT.

UM, THAT HAS AN, A NEAT ARTICLE, UM, ABOUT FOOD SERVICES AND THEIR SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS.

UM, OKAY, SO MOVING ON.

UM, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS.

SO NOW WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.

UM, SO WE HAVE WASTE SORTING TRAININGS, UM, FOR DIFFERENT AUDIENCES DEPENDING.

SO I DO A CUSTODIAL SUPERVISOR TRAINING EVERY MONTH, UM, THAT'S IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

AND THEN WE, TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEMS ALSO TAKES TRAINING REQUESTS.

SO, UM, THEY CREATED A DASHBOARD WHERE SCHOOLS CAN GO ON IN AND REQUEST TRAININGS FOR THEIR WHOLE SCHOOL, FOR THEIR CLASS, FOR THEIR STAFF, WHATEVER THAT SIZE IS THAT THEY NEED.

UM, AND THEN KEEP AUSTIN BEAUTIFUL, ALSO IS A GREAT PARTNER.

UM, I'LL TALK ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS LATER TOO, BUT THEY'RE, UM, A REALLY GREAT ONE TOO FOR TRAINING AND SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT.

UM, WE ALSO HAVE WAY SORTING VOLUNTEER

[00:15:01]

SO WE KNOW THAT OFTENTIMES IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO HAVE SOMEBODY STANDING AT THAT WAY STATION TO HELP STUDENTS AND STAFF SORT THEIR WASTE.

UM, AND SO WE'LL HAVE OCCASIONAL WASTE SORTING VOLUNTEER DAYS.

WE'RE DOING IT THIS, WE DO IT EVERY EARTH, EARTH MONTH, EARTH WEEK.

IT'S COMING UP, UM, WHERE WE'LL HAVE, UM, STAFF VOLUNTEER AND GO TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND HELP SORT AND THEY'LL RECEIVE A TRAINING BEFORE THEY GO.

UM, AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, TO SET UP MORE OF AN ONGOING OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO HELP SORT WASTE DURING LUNCH.

UM, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET THAT OFF THE GROUND BEFORE TOO LONG.

UM, AND THEN WE ALSO FIND IT REALLY VALUABLE IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE FOR FOLKS TO SEE WHERE THE WASTE GOES.

SO WE WORK WITH TDS TO HAVE FIELD TRIPS, UM, FOR STAFF.

THE ONE ON THE LEFT WAS OUR CUSTODIAL STAFF, UM, ABOUT A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

UM, AND THEN WE DO TEACHER GROUPS.

WE DO, UM, ALL SORTS OF FOLKS FROM ALL DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE DISTRICT BECAUSE IT'S REALLY EYE-OPENING FOR THEM TO SEE WHERE THE WASTE GOES.

UM, WE GO THROUGH THE, THE COMPOSTING AREA, THROUGH THE RECYCLING AREA, AND THEN OF COURSE, SEE THE LANDFILL.

UM, SO WE MAKE A POINT TO MAKE THAT AVAILABLE AS WELL.

UM, ON THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, WE CONNECT IT ALSO.

SO AT A ISD, WE REALLY WANT OUR, UM, FACILITIES TO BE LIVING LABS SO THAT SCHOOLS CAN USE OUR BUILDINGS FOR, UM, HANDS-ON LEARNING.

UM, AND THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE WHEN WE PARTNERED WITH OUR CTE DEPARTMENT TO HOLD A ZERO WASTE TRAINING.

UM, THIS WAS DURING COVID, SO WE HAD TO GET PRETTY CREATIVE, BUT THE TEACHER HAD US DO IT ON ZOOM.

UM, WE HAD OUR INDUSTRY PARTNER COME ALONG WITH OUR ZERO WASTE SPECIALIST.

UM, AND SO THEY HAD A LIVE CLASS WHERE THE STUDENTS WERE ENGAGING.

AND THEN WE ALSO RECORDED IT SO THAT IT COULD BE USED IN OTHER WAYS.

BUT THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE, HOW WE REALLY TRIED TO BRING THAT INTO THE CLASSROOM.

UM, AND TO HAVE STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, BE PROBLEM SOLVERS REALLY OF SOME OF THE WASTE ISSUES IN THEIR SCHOOL.

UM, AND THE TEACHERS, OUR CTE DEPARTMENT IS GREAT FOR PARTNERING WITH US ON THAT.

UM, THE NEXT SLIDE WE'LL SHOW YOU, UM, ON THE LEFT IS A COURSE WE HAVE.

IT'S A SUSTAINABLE SCHOOLS COURSE THAT WE CO-DESIGNED WITH A GROUP CALLED ECO RISE.

AND THEY DO SUSTAINABILITY CURRICULUM FOR SCHOOLS.

UM, AND IT'S, UM, HAS EIGHT MODULES AND, UM, THE OH, THAT'S ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

AND IT'S, UH, AVAILABLE TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF SO THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT ZERO WASTE PRACTICES AT A ISD, HOW THEY CAN TAKE PART.

UM, BUT IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT A LOT OF OTHER ELEMENTS.

AND THEN ON THE LEFT SIDE WE HAVE A BLEND COURSE, WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO OUR TEACHERS AND IT HAS STUDENT FACING CONTENT.

SO, UM, THEY CAN GO IN AND PULL LESSON PLANS AND THINGS LIKE THAT USING OUR OWN WASTE DATA, USING THEIR OWN SCHOOL, UM, FOR THAT EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT.

UM, THE NEXT SLIDE, LET'S SEE, WE'VE GOT, UH, YES, UM, OUR WEBSITE.

SO WE HAVE A ZERO WASTE WEBSITE ON THE LEFT, AND THAT'S WHERE, UM, ANYBODY CAN D DOWNLOAD WHAT WE'RE CALLING A TOOLKIT.

BUT IT'S A LOT OF RESOURCES TO, UM, DIG INTO ZERO WASTE AND WASTE DIVERSION.

IT'S GOT, UM, THE SORTING SIGNS IN IT.

UM, AND THEN WE CAN ALSO TAKE TRENDING REQUESTS, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER.

UM, WE'VE ALSO GOT A RESOURCES PAGE AND THAT QR CODE AT THE BOTTOM SHOULD GET YOU THAT FLYER.

UM, BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF TOO, SO THAT THEY KNOW HOW TO PLUG IN WHEN THEY'RE INTERESTED IN WASTE DIVERSION.

UM, GARDEN, THE GREEN TEAMS AND GARBAGE.

ALWAYS GET PEOPLE EXCITED.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE REALLY LIKE TO PLUG INTO AT OUR SCHOOLS.

UM, AND THEN FINALLY, UM, I'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OTHER INITIATIVES IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

THANK YOU.

UM, FROM THAT AUDIT THAT I MENTIONED THAT WE DID WITH TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEMS, UM, SOME SCHOOLS REALLY BUBBLED UP AS BEING EXCEPTIONAL IN THEIR WASTE DIVERSION.

AND SO WE'RE HAVING WHAT WE'RE CALLING A GOLDEN TRASH CAN AWARD, AND WE'RE GONNA AWARD IT THIS SPRING TO OUR TOP SCHOOLS.

AND WE REALLY HOPE THAT THAT CAN STIMULATE SOME COMPETITION BETWEEN SCHOOLS.

AND WE WANNA REPEAT IT EACH YEAR AND REALLY MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT.

UM, 'CAUSE IT'S REALLY THEIR PRACTICES THAT ARE, ARE GONNA MAKE OR BREAK, UM, OUR ABILITY TO HAVE A BIG IMPACT IN, IN SORTING WAYS.

SO WE WANNA RECOGNIZE THE KITCHEN STAFF THAT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT, THE CUSTODIAL STAFF AND THEN THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.

IT REALLY IS AN ALL CAMPUS, UM, EFFORT TO MAKE THESE, UM, TO MAKE DIVERSION WORK WELL.

SO, UM, WE'LL BE DOING THAT THIS SPRING.

AND THEN I REALLY WANTED TO, UM, GIVE A SHINE A LIGHT ON OUR WAREHOUSE, UM, OPERATIONS TOO.

THEY DO INCREDIBLE WORK TO KEEP WASTE OUT OF THE LANDFILL AND TO FIND NEW HOMES FROM IT.

OFTEN THEY'RE A LOT LAST STOP FOR A LOT OF OLD FURNITURE OR MISCELLANEOUS GLOBES.

GLOBES

[00:20:01]

UM, BUT I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL, UM, TO, UM, FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM OR X OR FACEBOOK AND YOU'LL GET A HEADS UP WHEN THESE SURPLUS SALES HAPPEN.

UM, THEY'RE PRETTY COOL AND THEY HELP BREATHE LIFE INTO STUFF THAT HAS BEEN RETIRED FROM A ISD THAT MAY NOT BE, UM, GOOD FOR LEARNING OR TEACHING ANYMORE.

MAYBE THEY'RE OUTDATED.

UM, BUT THEY COULD STILL REALLY BE A COOL USE.

AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM ALL DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES, UM, COME TO THOSE SURPLUS SALES.

OKAY, SO NOW WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT STAFFING AND PARTNERS.

UM, SO IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS, UM, A TIMELINE OF OUR ZERO WASTE STAFF.

IT REALLY MATTERS.

I HAVE NOTICED TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO CAN REALLY BE FOCUSED ON THIS, A DEDICATED PERSON, IT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

SO WE HAD, UM, FOR TWO YEARS STARTING IN 2017, A PART-TIME ZERO WASTE SPECIALIST.

IT WAS EXTERNALLY FUNDED.

UM, AND THEN THAT FUNDER, UM, BUMPED IT UP TO FULL-TIME 'CAUSE THEY REALIZED HOW MUCH WORK THERE WAS TO DO, UM, AND HOW GREAT THEY WERE DOING.

UM, AND THEN IN 2021, WE LOST THE POSITION, UNFORTUNATELY, UM, BECAUSE, UM, WE WERE GOING THROUGH BUDGET CUTS AND LOST A LOT OF STAFF IN, IN THAT SUMMER.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS.

THE GOOD THING IS THE PERSON HAD ALREADY MOVED ON, SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO GET FIRED, BUT THEY HAD TO TAKE THAT POSITION BACK, WHICH WAS UNFORTUNATE.

SO THEN REALIZING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE SOMEBODY WITH ATTENTION ON ZERO WASTE.

UM, WE COMBINED THE DUTIES WITH A SERVICE CENTER POSITION, AND THAT, UM, BEGAN IN 2022.

UM, THAT PERSON LEFT AND THAT POSITION HAS NOT BEEN FILLED.

UM, RIGHT NOW WITH THE BUDGET CUTS, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE A DEDICATED STAFF PERSON, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT GOES.

BUT I WILL SAY IT REALLY MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE, UM, TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO CAN REALLY PUT THEIR, THEIR FULL ATTENTION AT A DISTRICT LEVEL ON IT.

BUT EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HAD, UM, EBBS AND FLOWS WITH A DEDICATED STAFF PERSON, UM, THERE ARE THREE DEPARTMENTS THAT KEEP COLLABORATING CONSISTENTLY.

AND THAT'S FOOD SERVICES, CUSTODIAL, AND THEN MY DEPARTMENT SUSTAINABILITY.

SO LET'S SEE, UM, THESE ARE OUR PARTNERS ON THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, PARTNERS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

UM, IT'S BEEN REALLY NEAT TO SEE HOW MANY FOLKS COME TOGETHER, UM, UM, AND HAVE EXPERTISE AND REALLY WANNA DO SOMETHING AND, AND CAN HAVE IMPACT.

SO, UM, WE DO WORK WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE, UM, WHO REALLY HELP, UM, MAKE THIS HAPPEN, WHETHER IT'S FROM AN OPERATIONAL POINT OF VIEW, FROM COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE VOLUNTEERS, UM, OR FROM AN EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVE.

UM, REALLY WEAVING THIS INTO LESSON PLANS.

ALL RIGHT, SO NEXT, UM, WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES.

UM, THERE'S, UM, LIKE I SAID, RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE A DISTRICT LEVEL DEDICATED ZERO WASTE STAFF.

UM, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF US ENGAGED THAT MEET AROUND IT AND TALK ABOUT IT.

UM, BUT IT WOULD REALLY BE WONDERFUL TO GET THAT, THAT STAFF PERSON AGAIN.

UM, JUST THE SIZE OF US , IT IS A LITTLE BIT DAUNTING SOMETIMES.

SOME SCHOOLS ARE DOING GREAT WITH THEIR WASTE DIVERSION, SOME ARE NOT.

UM, AND SO, UM, WITH 73,000 STUDENTS, 113 SCHOOLS, 10,000 TEACHERS AND STAFF, UM, WE HAVE TO TRAIN EACH YEAR.

IT'S NOT LIKE YOU GO TO ONE TRAIN AND THEN YOU'RE DONE.

UM, THAT NEEDS TO KEEP HAPPENING BECAUSE NEW STUDENTS KEEP COMING IN.

UM, TEACHERS AND STAFF MOVE AROUND.

UM, SO IT'S REALLY ESTABLISHING THAT CONSTANT TRAINING CYCLE.

UM, AND THEN LUNCHTIME SORTING CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE.

A CHALLENGE.

UM, OUR FOOD SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS EXCEPTIONAL IN WHAT THEY'RE PURCHASING BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT THEY'RE BUYING CAN BE COMPOSTED OR RECYCLED.

UM, BUT THEN THERE'S PRACTICES AFTER IT LEAVES THAT SERVING LINE.

AND REALLY TRYING TO, TO BE BETTER ABOUT SORTING IN THE, IN THE, UM, CAFETERIA SUCCESSES.

I WOULD SAY.

WE HAVE A DISTRICT-WIDE POLICY AND PROGRAMMING THAT SUPPORT IT.

WE HAVE INCREDIBLE PARTNERS WHO ARE REALLY COMING TO THE TABLE TO MAKE THINGS WORK.

UM, WE HAVE DATA.

THERE ARE STILL GAPS IN THE DATA, SO THERE ARE SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT COULD BE MADE THERE.

UM, BUT IT REALLY IS A GOOD BELLWETHER FOR HOW WE'RE DOING.

UM, WE ARE HAVING SOME REALLY GOOD SUCCESSES, LIKE I SAID, WITH INTEGRATION INTO LEARNING.

UM, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ARE SO INTERESTED IN ZERO WASTE AND WASTE DIVERSION, SO IT'S NOT HARD TO SPARK THAT INTEREST.

UM, IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO SEE, UM, WHEN THEY'RE TAKING PART.

UM, AND THEN WE HAVE, UM, A REALLY GREAT, UM, FOOD SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHO'S ON IT, ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR STAFF TRAINING AND LIKE I SAID EARLIER, CROSS DEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION.

[00:25:01]

I'VE GIVEN YOU ALL A TON OF INFORMATION, UM, BUT WOULD LOVE TO HEAR IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, UM, OR ANY THOUGHTS.

DARIEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.

AND, UH, I APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE INFORMATION, UH, COMMISSIONERS.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR DARIEN? ANY THOUGHTS? HEY, DARIEN.

UH, COMMISSIONER JOHAN HERE.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE AWESOME PRESENTATION.

ONE THING THAT I DID WANNA ASK ABOUT, SO WHEN WE DID HAVE A FULL-TIME, UH, ZERO WASTE PERSON ON STAFF, YOU MENTIONED THAT IT WAS EXTERNAL FUNDING.

WHERE WAS THAT EXTERNAL FUNDING COMING FROM? YEAH, TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEMS. MM-HMM .

FUNDED WHEN WE STARTED IT.

OKAY.

YEP.

AND THEN, SO THAT'S NOT GONNA, UH, IN YOUR READ, THAT'S NOT GONNA COME OUT OF THE A ISD BUDGET ANYTIME SOON.

I WOULD LOVE FOR IT TOO.

I DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HAVE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH OUR BUDGET CONVERSATIONS.

UM, YEAH, YEAH.

.

WELL, IS THERE ANY DESIRE OR ANY CAPABILITY TO PUSH SOME OF OUR PARTNERS FOR THAT FUNDING OR, I MEAN, I KNOW OBVIOUSLY IT'S A PRECARIOUS ECONOMIC TIME, BUT, UH, HAVE ANY OF THE PARTNERS EXPRESSED A POTENTIAL INTEREST OR ANY LOBBYING OF THEM THAT I THINK IS ON OUR, OUR NEXT, UH, ROUND OF CONVERSATIONS? YEAH.

OUR PARTNERS SO FAR HAVE BEEN REALLY GENEROUS WITH, UM, THINGS THAT ARE IN THEIR WHEELHOUSE.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN TALKS WITH ONE PARTNER ABOUT A PILOT AT SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS THAT WOULD GET US SOME REAL, REALLY REAL COOL HELP THERE.

UM, BUT I THINK THE NEXT STEP IS TO SEE IF ANYBODY WANTS TO STEP UP AND HELP ON THAT POSITION AGAIN.

'CAUSE IT REALLY ISN'T EVERYBODY'S INTERESTS THAT WE'LL.

YEAH, SURE.

YEAH.

OKAY.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'VE GOT A COUPLE OR FEW I SHOULD SAY, UH, DURING, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL PRESENTATION.

SILLY QUESTIONS.

UH, THE CURRENT, UH, DIVERSION RATE.

YEP.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT ABOUT 23%.

UH, HAS THAT BEEN KIND OF CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE COURSE? I MEAN, WITH, WITH THE, UH, ASSISTANCE AND WITHOUT? UM, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

IT'S GONE DOWN.

UM, WE HAD A HIGHER DIVERSION RATE, UM, BEFORE COVID.

UM, COVID IN, UH, AFFECTED IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT I THINK, UM, THINGS HAVE JUST KIND OF GONE DOWN AS WE'VE LOST THAT, UH, STAFF ATTENTION.

UM, WE REALLY NEED SOMEBODY WHO CAN LOOK AT THE DATA.

IT TAKES A LOT OF PERSONAL TROUBLESHOOTING AT THE SCHOOLS.

UM, SO I THINK, I THINK IT WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE AGAIN.

THANK YOU.

AND THEN THE ACTUAL, THE PLASTIC STREAM, IS THAT STILL PART THAT, THAT, THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE, UH, SINGLE STREAM PROCESS? CORRECT.

ANY PLASTICS THAT ARE GENERATED AT THE SCHOOLS? SO, UH, LIKE ANY HARD PLASTICS OR ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT FILM PLASTIC? BOTH.

I MEAN, ARE THEY COMMINGLED AND JUST, UH, PLACED INTO THE MIXED, UH, RECYCLING CONTAINER? YEAH, SO OUR, UM, THE GOOD THING IS, UM, OUR, WE ACCEPT THE SAME THING THAT THE CITY DOES.

SO IF YOU CAN PUT IT IN YOUR HOME PLAN, YOU CAN PUT IT IN OUR AI S DEEP BIN, UM, FILM PLASTIC, THE CITY DOESN'T TAKE, AND WE CAN'T TAKE EITHER, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF WHERE IT'S PROCESSED.

OUR HAULER CAN'T PROCESS IT, OR OUR, OUR, UM, PROCESSOR.

SO FILM PLASTICS, UM, GO TO THE LANDFILL.

THANK YOU.

AND THEN YOU ALSO MENTIONED THAT, UH, ON THE ORGANIC SIDE OF THIS, I HAVE NOTICED DOWN AT AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL, FOR EXAMPLE, I SEE SOME OF THE, UH, CUSTODIAL FOLKS, GREAT WORKERS, I MEAN, MY GOODNESS, TAKING THE CART FROM POINT A TO THE ACTUAL CONTAINERS THEMSELVES.

VERY IMPRESSIVE, DEDICATED.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING THAT.

BUT CURIOUS ON THE, UH, ON THE ACTUAL ORGANIC COLLECTION, IS THAT DONE IN CARTS OR IS THAT ACTUALLY DONE IN A, UH, SMALLER DUMPSTERS? THOSE ARE, OR IS THAT VARIES? IS THAT VARY? THEY'RE, THEY'RE IN DUMPSTERS.

YEAH.

OKAY.

SO OUR CUSTODIANS WILL WHEEL THE WASTE OUT TO THE DUMPSTER AND THEN PUT IT INTO THE DUMPSTER.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

AND, AND AGAIN, I'LL JUST, I MEAN, CLOSE WITH THIS.

I MEAN, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WE'RE IN VERY PRECARIOUS TIMES WHEN IT COMES TO, TO FUNDING EDUCATION HERE.

AND, AND I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS COMMISSION AND, AND THE CITY CAN SUPPORT YOU IN, IN THE EFFORTS THAT CONTINUE THIS.

I MEAN, LITERALLY THE FUTURE OF RECYCLING AND DIVERSION IS WITH YOU AND THE KIDS.

AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR, FOR DOING THIS.

THANK YOU, DARIEN.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER THOUGHTS?

[00:30:01]

DARIEN, AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO, TO PRESENT THIS.

IT'S MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT,

[Items 1 & 5]

THE NEXT ITEM I, I'D LIKE TO MOVE UP, UH, I GUESS JASON, YOUR ITEM FIVE AND ITEM NUMBER ONE.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO COMMINGLE THOSE IN YOUR PRESENTATION SINCE WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING A ACTION ON THOSE? THANK YOU.

IS THIS ON? YES.

THERE WE GO.

OKAY, THANKS.

SO, UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

UH, MY NAME IS JASON MCCOMBS.

I'M A DIVISION MANAGER WITH AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY.

AND, UH, WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE BEFORE US TONIGHT ARE SOME PROPOSED, UH, AMENDMENTS TO OUR DEPARTMENT RULES.

UM, THESE, UH, REALLY ARE LARGELY FOCUSED ON SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

THE, THE SERVICES THAT OUR DEPARTMENT PROVIDES, UH, A LOT OF 'EM ARE JUST REALLY ABOUT CART PLACEMENT.

UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE TOO MUCH MATERIAL, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T FIT IN THE CART, WHAT TO DO WITH THAT.

AND THEN ALSO ANY RIGHT RETURN TRIP FEES THAT MAY OCCUR.

UM, WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, SO WE'VE GOT SOME, UH, NEW COMMISSIONERS HERE, BUT, UH, JUST, JUST KIND OF AN OVERVIEW.

UM, SO ADMINISTRATIVE RULES, UM, THESE ARE NOT, UH, THIS ISN'T CODE.

THIS IS HOW THE DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTS CODE.

AND THESE ARE THE KIND OF OFFICIAL RULES THAT SUPPLEMENT, UH, THAT CODE ITSELF.

UM, A RR IS A UNIQUE DEPARTMENT IN THAT WE DO COME TO ZAC AND WE DO GO TO COUNCIL WITH OUR RULES.

UM, MOST OF THE CITY, UM, OPERATES UNDER A DIFFERENT SECTION OF CODE WITH THE RULES, ULTIMATELY END UP WITH, UH, THE CITY MANAGER FOR FINAL DETERMINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION.

BUT, UM, BUT EITHER WAY, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE AND WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

SO, UM, WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

AND SO WE ARE, UM, WE'VE, AS A DEPARTMENT, WE'VE, WE'VE IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF RULE CHANGES THAT WOULD NEED TO BE MADE.

AND WE, UH, THIS ROUND OF RULE CHANGES, WE PR UM, PRESENTED THE FIRST DRAFT BACK IN JANUARY TO ZAC.

UM, AND THEN WE HAVE POSTED IT TO SPEAK UP AUSTIN, AND WE HAD THAT UP FOR ABOUT 30 DAYS.

AND WE COLLECT, UH, PUBLIC FEEDBACK DURING THAT TIME.

AND SO WE MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON THAT FEEDBACK.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY.

IN YOUR BACKUP, YOU SHOULD SEE, UM, A SUMMARY OF SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC ON SPEAK OF BOSTON AND YOU KNOW, HOW WE WE RESPONDED TO THAT.

UM, BUT, UH, YEAH, SO WE'RE HERE TODAY, WE'RE, WE'RE IN THE APRIL THERE ON THAT SCHEDULE OR THAT PROCESS THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH HERE.

AND, UM, LIKE I SAID, WE'LL BE HOPEFULLY SEEKING ACTION FOR RECOMMENDATION LATER.

UM, AND THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, UM, WITH THE INTENT THAT, AND, UH, WE WERE GONNA TRY TO GET THIS ONTO A MAY, JUNE, UM, COUNCIL AGENDA FOR ACTUAL ADOPTION.

UM, WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

LIKE I SAID, WE'VE, UH, IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF SECTIONS OF RULES THAT, UH, DO NEED TO BE UPDATED.

AND SO WE, UH, HAD OUR FIRST ROUND THAT WE, UH, STARTED TALKING ABOUT IF IT WAS LATE SUMMER, UM, BUT THOSE WERE PASSED BY CITY COUNCIL IN, UH, NOVEMBER.

UM, THIS WAS USING THE EXACT SAME PROCESS THAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE TODAY FOR THAT FIRST ROUND.

AND WE ARE NOW HERE ON THE NUMBER TWO.

UM, AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE GOT A FEW MORE AHEAD OF US.

SO WE'RE KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE AND WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH THESE, UH, NEXT SLIDE.

AND SO, UM, SO YEAH, JUST, UH, LIKE, SO YOU'VE GOT THE STRIKE THROUGH VERSION, UM, OF THE RULES IN FRONT OF YOU AS BACKUP.

THIS IS JUST A SUMMARY OF, UH, OF A LOT OF THOSE CHANGES.

UM, AND A LOT OF THESE AMENDMENTS ARE BEING MADE TO ALIGN WITH OUR EXISTING OPERATIONS, EXISTING OUTREACH.

UM, YOU KNOW, OUR RULES HAVE OVER TIME HAVE KIND OF FALLEN OUT OF DATE, AND WE'RE NEEDING TO KIND OF CATCH UP AND, AND GET TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE ARE ACTUALLY AS A DEPARTMENT.

AND SO, UM, BUT THAT'S REALLY IT.

WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

AND WITH THAT, I CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AND, UM, THAT YOU MAY HAVE FROM, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC COMMENTS OR THE STRIKE YOU VERSION.

AND, UH, LIKE I SAID, WE WILL BE SEEKING, UM, ANY ACTION, UM, TO RECOMMEND THESE.

JASON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COMMISSIONERS.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR JASON? HEY, UH, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

I, HOW, HOW WILL THESE CHANGES BE COMMUNICATED TO PEOPLE, THE PUBLIC? SO WE HAVE FIRST WE POSTED IT TO, UM, SPEAK OF AUSTIN.

IT WILL.

SO, UH, HERE, I THINK THROUGH WAC I THINK IS ONE WAY THAT WE DO IT.

IT WILL THEN GO, WE ARE GOING TO PRESENT LATER THIS MONTH TO THE, UH, IT'S A NEW, UH, COUNCIL COMMITTEE CALLED CLIMATE, WATER ENVIRONMENT, UH MM-HMM .

AND PARKS COMMITTEE.

AND THEN WE'LL ALSO GO TO, UH, COUNCIL AS WELL.

UM, AND THEN, BUT THEN AFTER

[00:35:01]

WE'VE GOT MUNI CODE.

UM, IT'S WHERE AUSTIN CODE IS, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A DEPARTMENT RURAL SECTION THERE AS WELL.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? I DID, UH, COULD WE GO BACK TO THE, COULD WE GO BACK TO THE, UH, SLIDE WITH ALL THE PROPOSED COULD? YEAH, THANK YOU.

IT WAS THAT ONE.

YEAH.

SO IT LOOKED LIKE ONE OF THE BIGGER, THE UP TOP, ESSENTIALLY.

I BELIEVE IT'S LIKE SIX 30 ON MY CARTS RIGHT NOW.

SO WE'RE MOVING, WE'RE BUMPING IN AN HOUR EARLIER, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT, YES.

AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING, UM, OPERATIONALLY WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE IMPLEMENTED HERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE NOW.

YOU ARE RIGHT THAT MINI CARTS DO SAY SIX 30.

WE HAVE NEW CARTS AS WE ISSUE THEM.

WE'VE BEEN CHANGING THAT TIME.

UM, BUT THAT REALLY, THAT'S JUST TO HELP WITH OPERATIONS, BUT IT'S ALSO FOR SAFETY TOO, OF OUR, OF OUR CREWS, UM, A LOT OF TIMES TO HELP REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TIME THEY'RE EXPOSED TO HEAT DURING THE DAY.

BY THAT EARLIER START, ARE WE GONNA INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF SPACING OR HOW MANY FEET ARE YOU GOING TO BE RECOMMENDING MOVING FORWARD BETWEEN FIVE FEET? UH, FIVE, FIVE FEET IS WHAT WE RECOMMEND.

AND SO, UM, WE USED TO SAY IN OUR OLD RULES, THREE TO FIVE, BUT OUR MESSAGING THESE DAYS, UM, WE JUST KEEP IT SIMPLE AND STICK TO FIVE.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR ME.

THANK YOU, MICHAEL.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY CHALLENGING AT TIMES WITH SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE HAVE HERE TO, TO FIND ONE FOOT, MUCH LESS FIVE.

BUT, UH, NONETHELESS, I, YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING.

THE DRIVERS ARE FANTASTIC, HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO MANEUVER THESE VERY LARGE, UH, VEHICLES AND HOOK AND GO.

BUT, UH, ANYWAY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? AMANDA, GO AHEAD.

UH, YEAH, THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL.

THANK YOU FOR THE OVERVIEW.

AND THEN FOR THE DETAILED BREAKDOWN, I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE RETURN TRIP FEE SECTION.

UM, WHAT METHODS DOES THE DEPARTMENT HAVE FOR DETERMINING IF THE CUSTOMER HAS SET OUT BY 5:30 AM? SO, UM, WELL, WE GO BY USING A ROUTING SOFTWARE, I THINK ITSELF, AND THEN WE ALSO WILL TALK TO OUR OPERATORS THEMSELVES.

UM, BUT IT'S REALLY A DISCUSSION WITH, UM, THE OPERATORS WITH 3 1 1 AND OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM, UM, THAT WE USE TO HELP KIND OF DETERMINE IF IT WAS MISSED OR NOT.

WE DO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH EVERY, EVERY TIME WITH, UM, WITH THE PERSON MAKING THE CALL THEMSELVES.

UM, THIS ISN'T, WE'RE NOT, WE DON'T JUST APPLY THE FEE, UH, TO THEM.

WE DISCUSS IT WITH THEM, BUT I'LL HAVE, WE GET, UH, RON ROMERO, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR HERE, YOU CAN PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE DETAIL.

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

UH, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

GOOD QUESTION.

WE ARE, UH, INVESTING HEAVILY INVESTING IN ONBOARD TECHNOLOGY ON OUR EQUIPMENT.

AND THAT TECHNOLOGY, NOT ONLY YOU DOES A GPS, UH, BREADCRUMB AT THAT PARTICULAR ADDRESS, BUT IT ALSO HAS THE CAPABILITY OF TAKING PICTURES.

SO WE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT VIDEO TO DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO DO THINGS THAT ARE PUNITIVE TO THE CUSTOMER, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THIS IS FOR OUR PROTECTION INSTEAD OF HE SAID SHE SAID THING.

RIGHT.

OKAY.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT, BECAUSE I'VE HAD INSTANCES OF CALLING AND THE PERSON AT 3 1 1 OR THE PER OR WHO THEY PASS ME TO, UM, AT A RR WILL ASK ME, OH, WELL, YOU KNOW, WAS YOUR CART SET OUT AT THIS TIME? AND YEAH, THEY SAY YES, AND THEN THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.

YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY, THEY, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE CHECKING FILM AT THAT POINT, IF, HOW DO THEY VERIFY THAT? I JUST DIDN'T SET IT OUT AT NINE 30 AND THEN CALL THEM.

SO, UM, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, KNOW TO, TO BACK UP THE YES PROCEDURES HERE.

YES, MA'AM.

IT'S, IT'S PROVEN TO BE VERY HELPFUL FOR US.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, RON.

THANK YOU, RON.

THANK YOU, AMANDA.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS.

THIS IS AL ALSO AN ACTION ITEM.

AND THE, UH, ACTION THAT, UH, NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED WOULD BE BASICALLY SUPPORTING THIS, UH, PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE RATE STRUCTURE.

UH, I'LL SUBMIT A MOTION TO SUPPORT THIS RECOMMENDED CHANGE TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE RULES.

MICHAEL MOVES APPROVAL OF THIS.

DO I HEAR A SECOND? I'LL SECOND AMANDA SECONDS.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM HEARING? NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND PLEASE.

SEVEN UNANIM.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JASON AND RON.

GOD.

ALL

[4. Staff briefing regarding Austin Resource Recovery Recycling Guidelines and Processes, by Ron Romero, Assistant Director, Austin Resource Recovery.]

THE NEXT, UH, THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAVE IS RON, YOUR PRESENTATION

[00:40:01]

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

I'M RON ROMERO, AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR HERE WITH AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY.

BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THE PRESENTATION, UH, ON BEHALF OF OUR DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR, MCHALE AND BEHALF OF THE EXECUTIVE TEAM THAT IS HERE, WE DO WANT TO WELCOME ALL THE NEW COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE HERE, THAT ARE HERE, UH, PRESENT AND, AND THOSE THAT ARE ONLINE.

SO WE, WE WELCOME YOU, UH, THOSE OF US THAT HAVE HERE, BEEN HERE WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR MANY YEARS.

THIS IS, YOU KNOW, JUST PART OF THE LIFE THAT WE LIVE.

SO WE, WE WELCOME YOU HERE TO THE FAMILY.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, YOU KNOW, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US.

ALSO AN OPEN INVITATION TO COME AND VISIT OUR FACILITIES.

UH, WE ARE LOCATED OVER ON TODD LANE RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S WHERE OUR MAIN SERVICE CENTER IS AT, UH, OPEN INVITATION.

PLEASE JUST GET IN CONTACT WITH GUSTAVO OR CARINA, AND WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU OUT.

SO, OKAY, WELCOME.

SO WE'LL GET STARTED WITH THIS RECYCLING PRESENTATION.

UH, KUDOS TO DARIEN WITH A ISD, THAT, MAN, THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION, SO PLEASE DON'T JUDGE ME ON, ON WHAT WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH HERE.

SO FIRST SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO, THOSE OF US THAT HAVE LIVED HERE IN AUSTIN FOR MANY YEARS KNOW THAT AUSTIN HAS ALWAYS BEEN A, A GREEN CITY.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE, BEFORE A LOT OF THESE INITIATIVES KICKED OFF, WE HAD SOME, SOME PIONEERS HERE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WERE JUMPING INTO RECYCLING BEFORE RECYCLING WAS EVEN POPULAR.

UH, JUST A BRIEF HISTORY OF, OF RECYCLING HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

UH, RECYCLING ACTUALLY STARTED HERE.

CURBSIDE, UH, RECYCLING STARTED IN 1986.

ORGANIZED, WE HAD ONCE A WEEK COLLECTION, UH, AND THE PROGRAM REQUIRED THE RESIDENTS TO PLACE THEIR RECYCLABLES AT THE CURB IN THEIR PERSONAL CONTAINERS.

SO WE HADN'T EVEN GIVEN OUT THESE TWO CONTAINERS YET, THE PERSONAL CONTAINERS, AND MOST CONTAINERS THAT WE WOULD PICK UP WERE, UH, EITHER IN A PLASTIC BUCKET OR IN A CARDBOARD BOX.

AND WE SERVICED THIS BACK IN 86, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH 16 FOOT TRAILERS.

UH, AND THOSE TRAILERS HAD 55 GALLON, UH, BARRELS ON 'EM.

AND SO IT WAS VERY, VERY LABOR INTENSIVE, YOU KNOW, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY RECOGNIZED THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING.

UH, IN THE LATE EIGHTIES AND EARLY NINETIES, THE INTRODUCTION OF M'S, UH, KIND OF POPPED UP AND, UH, WE, WE CHANGED UP A LITTLE BIT.

YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAM ALLOWED FOR MIXED, UH, COLLECTION OF CONTAINERS.

UM, AND THE CITY SWITCHED TO A, UH, A PICKUP AND TRAILER COLLECTION, UM, UH, FROM A PICKUP AND TRAILER COLLECTION TO A DUMP TRUCK AND A DUMPING TRAILER.

AND, AND AT THAT TIME, THE RECYCLABLES WERE ACTUALLY TAKEN TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE THEY WERE, WHERE THEY WERE SOLD.

SO ENTER 1982, WHEN THE CITY, UH, EMBARKED ON, UH, THE PAYAS, YOU THROW PILOT PROGRAM, AND THAT'S WHEN THE CITY WENT OUT.

AND AT THAT TIME, I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT 175, A HUNDRED, BETWEEN A HUNDRED FIFTY, A HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE, UH, RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.

WE PERSONALLY WENT OUT AND DELIVERED THAT TOP BIN TO EACH, EACH RESIDENT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS.

AND, UH, JERRY'S SHAKING HIS HEAD 'CAUSE HE REMEMBERS THOSE DAYS.

THANK YOU.

SO, UH, YEAH, THE, UH, THE, THAT 14 GALLON BIN, UH, WAS, WAS VERY, VERY POPULAR.

YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF, WHEN YOU SAW THE BLUE BINS ON THE STREET, YOU KNOW, THAT PEOPLE WERE, WERE THIS, THIS PROGRAM WAS, WAS TAKING OFF, UH, COME INTO PLAY, JUMPED TO 2008.

UH, WE JUMPED INTO A SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING PILOT PROGRAM WHERE WE ACTUALLY GAVE A, A SET OF RESIDENTS, UH, SOME CARTS.

WE MOVED TO THE CART SYSTEM, UH, TO TRY IT OUT.

AND, UH, IN FISCAL YEAR, UH, 2010, WE JUMPED INTO THE, THE SINGLE STREAM, UH, BUSINESS AND, UH, DISTRIBUTED CARTS TO THE ENTIRE, UH, OUR RESIDENTIAL BASE.